AcoUstiKats to sing at Globetrotters game
January 17, 2014
By Amelia Orwick
UK’s acoUstiKats, who recently gained attention for their run on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” will be joining another famous act at Rupp Arena on Sunday for a stop on the Harlem Globetrotters’ 2014 “Fans Rule” World Tour.
“We are thrilled to be representing the University of Kentucky in Lexington for the first time since our ‘Sing-Off’ debut,” said acoUstiKats spokesman Jeremy Lewis in an email to the Kernel.
The all-male a capella group will perform three times: about 30 minutes prior to tipoff at 3 p.m., right before tipoff and again at halftime, according to a UK news release.
Twelve acoUstiKats will perform Sunday, Lewis said. The majority of them will be singers who performed on “The Sing-Off.”
AcoUstiKat Mason Stewart said the group’s appearance on the show has led to many unique opportunities, including a performance during the UK men’s basketball game vs. Florida for ESPN’s College GameDay on Feb. 15.
The acoUstiKats have added many songs to their repertoire since their appearance on national television, Stewart added.
Lewis said the group will premiere a new arrangement of the Globetrotters’ theme song, “Sweet Georgia Brown,” on Sunday.
“(The Globetrotters) are a world-renowned group. I read that they’re in their 88th year, and this is our 21st year … They have a couple years on us,” Stewart said. “To be on the same floor with a group as talented as they are is really an honor.”
Lewis said he is looking forward to more than just the performance this weekend.
“I have personally witnessed the Globetrotters perform in my hometown … multiple times and wouldn’t dare miss out on seeing them again,” he said.
Just as the Globetrotters encourage crowd participation, Lewis hopes those in attendance will approach the acoUstiKats and interact with them via social media.
Tickets to the event start at $24 and can be purchased at harlemglobetrotters.com or ticketmaster.com.